Global Patent Index - EP 1668980 B1

EP 1668980 B1 20160504 - Method of milking an animal and device for this purpose

Title (en)

Method of milking an animal and device for this purpose

Title (de)

Verfahren für das Melken eines Tiers, und Vorrichtung für diesen Zweck

Title (fr)

Méthode de traite d'un animal, et appareil à cet effet

Publication

EP 1668980 B1 20160504 (EN)

Application

EP 06075593 A 20040817

Priority

  • EP 04077320 A 20040817
  • NL 1024295 A 20030915

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP1514469A1] A method of milking an animal by means of a milking device (1) provided with at least one teat cup (2) having a pulsation space and a teat space. The teat space is connected to a vacuum source via (10) a milk tube (5a,5b), the teat space and the milk tube forming a milking space, which method comprises successively a connection step, a milk-drawing step and a disconnection step. During the milk-drawing step a pulsating pulsation vacuum is present in the pulsation space and a milking vacuum is present in the teat space. In the disconnection step the milking vacuum is lowered after which the teat cup is drawn away from the animal by the device, the vacuum level being measured in a part of the milking space. The teat cup is drawn away after the vacuum level has come below a threshold value. <??>A milking device (1) provided with a robot (14) for automatically connecting at least one teat cup (2) to a teat of an animal, which teat cup (2) comprises a teat space for containing a teat and a pulsation space for applying a milking motion by means of a pulsating pulsation vacuum. The teat space is connected via a milk tube (5a,5b) to a vacuum source (10) for generating a milking vacuum. The teat space and the milk tube form the milking space, with a drawing-away device (3) for drawing the teat cup (2) away from the animal, with a vacuum-lowering device for lowering the milking vacuum in the teat space, with a computer (11) for activating the drawing-away device (3) after the milking vacuum has been lowered, the milking space comprising a sensor (16) for measuring the milking vacuum and emitting to the computer (11) a milking vacuum signal. The drawing-away device (3) is capable of being activated when the vacuum level comes below a threshold value. <IMAGE>

IPC 8 full level

A01J 5/04 (2006.01); A01J 5/007 (2006.01); A01J 5/017 (2006.01); A01J 7/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

A01J 5/007 (2013.01 - EP US); A01J 5/017 (2013.01 - EP US); A01J 5/04 (2013.01 - EP US); A01J 7/005 (2013.01 - EP US)

Citation (opposition)

Opponent : DeLaval International AB

  • WO 03055296 A1 20030710 - DELAVAL HOLDING AB [SE], et al
  • DE 3609275 A1 19870924 - SCHMIDT WERNER LUDWIG
  • WO 0119169 A1 20010322 - DELAVAL HOLDING AB [SE], et al
  • EP 0727137 A1 19960821 - WESTFALIA SEPARATOR AG [DE]
  • WO 0018218 A1 20000406 - BABSON BROS CO [US]
  • US 3690300 A 19720912 - TONELLI GUIDO ANTONIO
  • US 5809932 A 19980922 - VAN DEN BERG KAREL [NL]
  • EP 0677243 A2 19951018 - MAASLAND NV [NL]
  • US 6494163 B1 20021217 - OORT DICK MARIUS [NL]
  • A.J. BRAMELY ET AL.: "Factors limiting milk flowrate: Information from still x-ray studies", MACHINE MILKING AND LACTATION, 1992, pages 124 - 133, XP055351730
  • D. AKAM: "The development of equipment for the mechanization of manual operations in machine milking", PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MACHINE MILKING, 21 February 1978 (1978-02-21), pages 417 - 426, XP055351732
  • "Automatic cluster removers (ACRs)", COW TIME QUICK NOTE 5.2, January 2003 (2003-01-01), pages 1 - 3, XP055351733, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:www.cowtime.com.au>
  • LARSEN, H.C.: "Testing of vacuum during milking", DANISH DAIRY BOARD, September 1998 (1998-09-01), pages 1 - 10, XP055351736
  • E.-C. STUTE: "Klinische Untersuchungen zum Einfluss haufigeren Melkens auf den Heilungsverlauf bei der Mastitistherapie", THESIS, 1978, pages 63 - 72, XP055351755
  • ERNEST KLEINSCHROTH, ET AL.: "Mastitis Euterkrankheiten erkennen, vorbeugen und behandeln", TOP AGRAR EXTRA, 1986, pages 1 - 6, 18-20, XP055351758

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE DK FR GB NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 1514469 A1 20050316; EP 1514469 B1 20060816; DE 602004001943 D1 20060928; DE 602004001943 T2 20070315; DK 1514469 T3 20061227; DK 1668980 T3 20160822; EP 1668980 A1 20060614; EP 1668980 B1 20160504; NL 1024295 C2 20050316; US 2005056224 A1 20050317; US 7334537 B2 20080226

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 04077320 A 20040817; DE 602004001943 T 20040817; DK 04077320 T 20040817; DK 06075593 T 20040817; EP 06075593 A 20040817; NL 1024295 A 20030915; US 93947504 A 20040914